News From Lowell Township
I took a break from Woodston News last spring during calving. I have had readers mention they missed it and we are having a name change. I have respect for the work and dedication newspaper staff are involved in compiling a weekly newspaper.
We are thankful for moisture recently and glad to be getting on to normal activities after all holidays, bowl games, and bitterly cold weather. On December 22, I did not leave the house and warmth until 2 p.m. until guilty feelings convinced me there were animals who needed attention. Many of us had water problems and electricity was off December 23 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. I found some frozen eggs even though I have heat lamps in the chicken coops. Chickens were getting cabin fever being shut-in for several days. My bird watching hobby has taken a good amount of feed through the cold days for bird and squirrels. Grandchildren visiting enjoyed the show and gifted me with sunflower seeds and suet.
There have been changes in the neighborhood this fall. Dylan and Callie Dibble and boys have purchased a home in Woodston. A couple from southern Indiana, Rich and Janet Winkles, have purchased the old Henry McCall farmstead from Leo and Bonita Oliva. They plan to spend three months here each year. Rich raises dogs and enjoys hunting.
My sister, Norma Sharp, Riley, had great-grandson, Cody Sharp, travel by bus with Riley County High School band to the Cheez-It Bowl, Orlando Florida. His Dad was one of the sponsors and the band instructor planned a “detour” so kids could say they had dipped in the ocean. Watching the Alabama- KSU Sugar Bowl game was painful and now heard that speedy Deuce Vaughn may leave for the NFL draft.
December 29, I spent overnight with brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Melva Stillwagon, Bennington. December 30, I drove to Zion Brethern Church north of Abilene for the Memorial Service for classmate Ken Livingston. Ken passed Christmas morning with leukemia. We attended grade school together and graduated from DCCHS with Class of 66. Kenny owned his own trucking company and most of the casket bearers were truck drivers. Our class has lost 28 members since graduation.
Sunday, January 1, I drove to McPherson to exchange pickups with son, Dan, and had lunch. I met Steve back in Salina. He had brought a Jones Oil fuel truck from Scott City to a Salina truck shop.
Since most everyone is updating cell phones, my cousin from El Dorado finally conceded she had to replace her old flip phone. She was using my aunt’s phone who had passed away in 2008!
Betty Lala spent Christmas at Smith Center together with all her family members in the home of daughter, Barb McClain.
Steve’s uncle, Bob McCall, passed away Wednesday, January 4, after celebrating his 100th birthday on November 29. He was the son of Henry and Emma McCall and graduated from Woodston in 1940. Bob married Evelyn Melton on February 14,1943 and they lived in Oklahoma City until July 1943 while he worked on planes at Tinker Field. He had also been at Boeing Aircraft, Wichita, building B-17 bombers. As the war was progressing, Bob volunteered for Army Air Force and began duty July of 1943. After serving in England, France, and Germany, he arrived back in the States in 1946.
Bob worked in Vic Case’s blacksmith shop, Stockton, and in 1948 began his own blacksmith business at Woodston. They purchased their home in 1950. He drove a school bus for 29 years and most of the kids called him “Uncle Bob.” This information was from Evelyn’s “Memories” compiled in 1990.
If you have news or something to report, please call 785-994-6370 or 785-476-5206.
First Day Hike 2023
First Day Hikes have become a popular way for many people to begin the New Year. These hikes began in Massachusetts 25 years ago. They are part of a program offered by American State Parks. This year, First Day Hikes were offered by 21 Kansas State Parks. The Facebook group WomenWhoWander(Central Kansas) have organized their own First Day Hike for the past four years. This year, 10 women including Bonita Oliva of Woodston and two children, met at the Rock Town Trailhead in Lucas Park on the north side of Wilson Lake. The weather was perfect for hiking with very little wind and the group stopped at various places along the trail and at the Rock Town rock formation to pose for photos. It took the group about two hours to complete the 2.5-mile loop.
After eating quick lunches, the remaining eight group members began searching for an island that is now accessible by foot because of the lowered lake level also in Lucas Park. One of the group members had heard of this newly formed land bridge. After locating the spot, the group hiked down the lake shore, helping each other scramble down a rock face and walked across the narrow ice-covered land bridge. Several rock hounds were intrigued by the interesting rocks on the shore of the island. After posing for a number of group photos, the group returned to their cars, bid farewell, and felt satisfied with their great start for the New Year.
This is the Women Who Wander (Central Kansas) fourth New Year’s Day Hike. In 2020, several group members joined the official First Day in the Park in Kansas’ newest State Park Little Jerusalem Badlands, Logan County, south of Oakley. They were given free First Day in the Park t-shirts. The hike was led by a park ranger. With the onset of COVID, group members decided not to join the official First Day in the Park group hikes. On January 1, 2021 Bonita Oliva met Kim Perez, Hays in Kanopolis Lake State Park, the first state park in Kansas located on the Smoky Hill River, and hiked a portion of the Horsethief Canyon Trail. A portion of the trail which was in shadow for part of the day was covered with ice necessitating the pair crawl for a distance. There were several scary stream crossings as well.
Because of a forecast blizzard on January 1, 2022, Kim Perez, Hays, Susan Colglazier, Great Bend, and Bonita Oliva met at Kanopolis Lake State Park on Dec 31, 2021 and hiked the Horsethief Canyon Trail. It is a beautiful trail well worth a repeat hike and a beautiful day. The forecast blizzard materialized on January 1, causing First Day in the Park hikes to be canceled. Women Who Wander (Central Kansas) meet throughout the year to hike and kayak, but without a doubt, the First Day in the Park Hike is the most meaningful gathering, beginning the new year being healthy and having fun with friends is a good way to start the new year.
